Beach Peeps

In this episode of Beach Peeps, CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Rudy Hernandez, a social work student whose journey at The Beach is a powerful story of resilience, growth, and the importance of community. Rudy shares what it was like arriving at CSULB at just 17, navigating college as a former foster youth without a strong support system, and facing early challeng...

In this episode of Beach Peeps , CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Jada O’connor, a fourth-year accounting student whose journey at The Beach is defined by confidence, community, and purpose. Jada shares how her role in outreach and school relations allows her to help prospective students see themselves at CSULB and successfully navigate the transition to college. T...

In this episode of Beach Peeps , CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Fatima Rosas Huerta, a graduate student whose journey through higher education is grounded in purpose, advocacy, and resilience. Originally from Puebla, Mexico, and raised in El Monte, Fatima shares her experience as a first-generation college student navigating higher education without a clear roadm...

In this episode of Beach Peeps, CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Leo Lopez, a kinesiology major whose journey at The Beach is all about growth, connection, and embracing every part of who you are. Leo shares how he came to CSULB unsure of his path, initially studying economics before discovering his passion for kinesiology and a future in physical therapy. Alongsid...

In this episode of Beach Peeps , CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Ana Carpio Monterroso, a first-generation student whose journey to The Beach is rooted in resilience, discovery, and purpose. Originally from Guatemala, Ana shares how she came to the United States and didn’t initially believe that a four-year university, or even a career in education, was within rea...

In this episode of Beach Peeps, CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Ian Fernandez, a film major and the creative mind behind many of the Student Affairs Instagram reels. Ian shares how his passion for storytelling started at a young age and evolved into creating engaging, funny, and sometimes chaotic social media content for campus. From scripting and filming to editi...

In this episode of Beach Peeps, CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with political science major Andre Achacon to talk about advocacy, public service, and taking intentional risks. Andre shares how he jumped into Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) during his first year at The Beach and quickly found his passion for student advocacy. That passion led him to the prestigious Pan...

In this episode of Beach Peeps, CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Monet Jenkins, a Business Marketing major whose journey to belonging at The Beach is filled with intention, resilience, and a whole lot of pink. Monet opens up about originally wanting to attend an HBCU and arriving at CSULB unsure if she had made the right choice. After experiencing loneliness during...

In this episode of Beach Peeps , CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Mikey Sato, an international student from Tokyo, Japan, whose journey to The Beach is anything but ordinary. Before arriving at CSULB as a Business Information Systems major, Mikey was a nationally ranked equestrian champion in Japan. He shares what it was like competing at the highest level, the dis...

In Episode 4 of Beach Peeps, CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Jonathan Mukai for a conversation about focus, leadership, and helping students start strong at The Beach. Jonathan shares how his involvement in archery has shaped his mindset, teaching him patience, discipline, and the importance of steady focus. He reflects on how the sport isn’t just about hitting a...

In Episode 3 of Beach Peeps, CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with ASI Student Government Vice President of Finance Kim Nguyen for an empowering conversation about leadership, confidence, and financial literacy. Kim shares what it means to serve as VP of Finance, including how she helps students access grants and funding to support travel, research, and academic opportu...

In Episode 2 of Beach Peeps , CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with 2025/2026 ASI Student Body President Sonny Ciampa for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation about leadership, resilience, and community. Sonny shares his journey growing up in Long Beach and navigating college as a student on the autism spectrum, opening up about the obstacles he’s overcome and the st...

In the debut episode of Beach Peeps, CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with student Tyler Brazile for a lively, heartfelt conversation that captures the true spirit of The Beach. Tyler shares his journey as a CSULB student and highlights the many resources that make campus feel like home, from Housing and Residential Life to the Men’s Success Initiative, clubs, and organ...